UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ISRO, AIIMS sign MoU for space medicine and research
Q1. With reference to the Framework Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between ISRO and AIIMS New Delhi (2026) for cooperation in space medicine, consider the following as identified collaborative research areas:
1. Immunology and gut microbiome
2. Musculoskeletal atrophy and ageing in microgravity
3. Lunar regolith mineralogy and in-situ resource utilisation
4. Infectious disease control
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Immunology and gut microbiome
- Musculoskeletal atrophy and ageing in microgravity
- Lunar regolith mineralogy and in-situ resource utilisation
- Infectious disease control
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q2. In the context of the 2026 ISRO-AIIMS Framework MoU on space medicine, the term 'Bharatiya Antariksh Station' (BAS) refers to which one of the following?
- A. India's planned indigenous space station to serve as a platform for human research and long-duration crewed presence in low-Earth orbit
- B. A simulated microgravity ground facility being built at AIIMS New Delhi for astronaut bio-medical training
- C. ISRO's deep-space tracking and communication network for crewed lunar missions
- D. A joint Indo-Russian astronaut training centre being set up under the Gaganyaan programme
Q3. Under the Gaganyaan programme — the human-spaceflight initiative that forms the operational context of the 2026 ISRO-AIIMS Framework MoU on space medicine — how many Indian Air Force test pilots have been designated by ISRO as astronaut-candidates (Gaganyatris)?
- A. Two
- B. Three
- C. Four
- D. Six
Q4. With reference to the Framework MoUs signed by ISRO with AIIMS New Delhi (2026) and with SCTIMST (2025) on cooperation in space medicine, consider the following statements:
1. Both MoUs are operationally linked to ISRO's Gaganyaan human-spaceflight programme and the planned Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
2. SCTIMST functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, whereas AIIMS New Delhi functions under the Department of Science and Technology.
3. 'Radiation Biology and Medicine' is explicitly listed as a research area under the ISRO-SCTIMST MoU but not under the ISRO-AIIMS MoU's stated research areas.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Both MoUs are operationally linked to ISRO's Gaganyaan human-spaceflight programme and the planned Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
- SCTIMST functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, whereas AIIMS New Delhi functions under the Department of Science and Technology.
- 'Radiation Biology and Medicine' is explicitly listed as a research area under the ISRO-SCTIMST MoU but not under the ISRO-AIIMS MoU's stated research areas.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. With reference to the 2026 ISRO-AIIMS New Delhi Framework MoU on Space Medicine and Research, the following are identified as collaborative research areas:
1. Nutrition and metabolic health
2. Immunology and gut microbiome
3. Satellite remote sensing for crop-yield forecasting
4. Behavioural health and neurophysiology
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?
- Nutrition and metabolic health
- Immunology and gut microbiome
- Satellite remote sensing for crop-yield forecasting
- Behavioural health and neurophysiology
- A. 3 only
- B. 1 and 3
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 1, 2 and 4